Seinfeld star Richards cast in new US sitcom

An American cable network says it has cast former Seinfeld star Michael Richards in a pilot for a new sitcom.

TV Land says Richards, best known as Seinfeld's eccentric neighbour Cosmo Kramer, will tape the pilot episode of a series called Giant Baby next week.

It will co-star Kirstie Alley and Rhea Perlman, who made their names on 1980s sitcom Cheers.

Richards has largely been off-screen since 2006, when he directed racist insults to hecklers at a stand-up gig.

The comedian later apologised, saying he "went into a rage" when his act was interrupted.

If commissioned for a full series, Giant Baby will be the comedian's first regular role since the short-lived sitcom The Michael Richards Show aired on NBC in 2000.

Richards, 63, played Vic Nardozza, a lanky and clumsy private investigator in the show, which ran for just eight episodes.

Before that, he received three Emmy Awards for outstanding supporting actor for his role on Seinfeld.

Kramer re-appeared in the seventh series of Curb Your Enthusiasm, in a series of episodes that centred around a Seinfeld Reunion. Richards also appeared recently in Jerry Seinfeld's web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Giant Baby follows the story of fictional Broadway star Madison Banks, played by Alley, who reconnects with her long-lost son after the death of his adopted mother.

Richards will play Maddie's limo driver, while Perlman will play her assistant and best friend. The series creator is Marco Pennette.